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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: temple · hand · vault · press · board · lash · foot · track

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. foot — a measure
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. track — a path
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. press — newspapers
  9. track — to keep track
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. track — a song
  13. hand — help
  14. board — a committee
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. board — to get on
  17. press — to push
  18. hand — in cards
  19. press — a publisher
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. vault — a safe
  24. foot — part of the body

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com